Malian Troops Accused of Summary Executions

Malian troops have been accused of carrying out summary executions of suspected Islamists. The allegations come as African coalition forces begin advancing to the center of Mali, in support of the French intervention.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) on Wednesday accused Malian soldiers of summarily executing at least 11 people in the central town of Sevare. It is vastly forecasted that Mali crisis may spread Benin president and chairman of the African Union (AU) Thomas Boni Yayi has called on Germany to be more proactive in Mali crisis. But Berlin says it will not be sending in combat troops.

According to FIDH, there are additional reports that Malian troops executed another 20 people in Sevare and dumped their bodies into wells. FIDH is a global human rights organization with its headquarters in Paris. The victims were reportedly accused of collaborating with the Islamist militants who control much of northern Mali.

Last April, the Islamist groups Ansar Dine, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and MUJWA wrested the Mali's north from the central government and imposed Shariah law in several cities.

The African force was originally scheduled to deploy to Mali much later, but was forced to speed up its operational plans when Islamist militants made a rapid push from the north toward the capital, Bamako.

Paris currently has some 2,300 soldiers deployed in Mali, a former French colony.